2013 US Youth Soccer Region I Premier League opens season

FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 22, 2013) – The US Youth Soccer Region I Premier League for boys and girls teams in the Under-13 through Under-18 age groups will begin play this weekend. The US Youth Soccer Region I Premier Leagues provide an opportunity for the most competitive teams in Region I (East) to play each other on a scheduled basis while also competing for placement in the prestigious US Youth Soccer Region I Championships. The Region I Premier League is available to teams within the 15 State Associations of Region I.

The League will consist of a 16-team Premier Division for both boys and girls in the Under-13 (new for 2013), Under-14, Under-15, Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 age groups. The league season will begin Feb. 23 and conclude the weekend of Mother’s Day with Semi-Finals and Finals.

The 16 teams will be divided into two divisions of eight, North and South. Teams will play each team in their division once for a seven-game schedule. At the end of league play there will be a semi-final and a final match for the top four teams (top two teams in each division).

Champions of the Region I Premier League will advance to the Region I Championships, the regional stage of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and the oldest and most prestigious national championship competition in the country.

New this year, the two teams to reach the Region I Premier League final in the Under-14 through Under-17 age groups will also earn a spot in the 2013-2014 US Youth Soccer National League, the most competitive league in the country.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!®" is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org